Post-hole digger.



PATENTED APR. 7, 1908*.

J. H.`L0W RY. PosT HOLE BIGGER.

APPLICATION FILED .T UNE 11.1907` fammi-222% 3&1

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' a @gm JACOB H. LOWRY, OF LENOIR CITY, TENNESSEE.

POST-HOLE DIGGER.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Application led June 11, 1907.

Patented April 7, 1908.

serial No. 378,426.

T o all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JACOB H. LOWRY, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Lenoir City, in the county of Loudon and `State of Tennessee, have invented new and useful Improvements in Post-Hole Diggers, of which the following is a speciiication.

This invention is an improved post hole digger and it consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of devices hereinafter described and claimed.

The object of my invention is to combine with one of the shovels which form the post hole, a sleeve which is connected to such shovel for vertical longitudinal movement and to which the handle is attached, and a point'for digging up the earth at the center of the post hole andwhich may be operated in advance of the said shovel and is detachably connected to the said sleeve.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a post hole digger embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a similar view at right angles to Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the same.

My improved post hole digger comprises a shovel 1 and a shovel 12 which are respectively provided with handles 4L and 13. The shovel 1 is formed at its upper end with a tubular head 2 in which operates the longitudinally movable tubular sleeve 3. The handle I of such shovel has its lower end detachably secured in the upper portion of the bore of said sleeve by means of the bolt or other suitable device 5. The lower portion of the-tubular head 2 is curved inwardly at opposite sides to form concaved cam surfaces 6 and a depending point or shoulder 7 between such cam surfaces and opposite the shovel 1.

The wedge shaped or other suitably shaped digging point 8 is provided at its upper end with the stem 9 to enter the lower portion of the bore of the sleeve 3, with shoulders 10 to engage the lower end of said sleeve and to also engage the concaved cam surface 6 so that the latter, when the digger is at work and the point 8 is resisted by the earth, will keep the broadened portion of such point opposite the shovel. A set screw Or other suitable device 11 is provided to secure the stem of the point in the bore of the sleeve.

When the sleeve is drawn upwardly in the head of the shovel to dispose the shoulder 1() of the point in contact with the cam surface 6 of the shovel head, the shovel 1 extends downwardly beyond the point and may be caused to operate in advance of the point. By forcing the sleeve downwardly, the point may be projected beyond and below the shovel and employed to loosen the earth at the center of the hole and co-act with the shovels 1, 12 in removing earth from the post hole. The shovels are provided on their opposing sides with lugs 14 pivotally connected together by a bolt 15, thereby effecting a hinge connection between the shovels, and the shovels are further provided at their upper ends on their opposing sides with studs 16 which come in contact with each other When the handles 4 and 13 are parallel and hold the handles and the shovels in such position.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A post hole digger having a shovel provided with a tubular head, a sleeve movable longitudinally in said head and providing for the attachment of the handle, and a point having a stem for insertion in the lower end of the bore of said sleeve.

2. A post hole digger having a shovel and a digging point disposed concentrically with reference to the shovel and adapted for longitudinal movement with respect thereto so that either the shovel or the point may be projected at will.

In testimony whereof, I afliX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JACOB H. LOVRY. Witnesses:

BETTIE SUMMITT,

GEORGIE SUMMITT. 

